Update: Bill to require guides for non-resident caribou hunters dead

Rep. Weslake, arguing in favor of his House Bill 211, to require non-resident hunters to hire a guide to hunt caribou on the North Slope.

UPDATE:

We are tardy reporting that the proposed bill to require all non-resident hunters on the North Slope hire a guide to hunt caribou died along with all other pending legislation at the end of this year’s regular Legislative session.

Special sessions called and perhaps to be called by the Governor on fiscal issues would not take up other items unless defined by the Governor.

Whether this issue resurfaces again in 2018 remains to be seen.

ORIGINAL STORY:

Legislation that would require non-resident hunters to hire a guide to hunt caribou on the North Slope is moving through the Alaska Senate.

Wednesday the Senate version of HB211 had it first reading and was referred to the State Affairs, Judiciary and Resources Committees.

This has been a popular, relatively inexpensive hunt for non-residents, able to hire a transporter for drop-off or float hunts in this vast part of the state.

House discussion last week on HB211 ranged far beyond caribou management, and laid bare several underlining issues, including questions of:

• Infringing on free commerce, shifting business from transporters to license guides;
• Legislature taking back authority from Board of Game on wild game regulations, instead of leaving management choices;
• When does a guide requirement become a hidden tax;
• More and more limitations on Alaska as a hunting destination for non-residents; and
• Rural preference over urban and non-resident hunters.

In Federal action that could have similiar restrictions on resident hunters, the Federal Subsistence Board is holding hearings this week and next in several North Slope communities to consider whether caribou hunts in GMU 23 and 26 should be restricted to local subsistence hunters only.   Read more about those hearings elsewhere on this website.